Safi Basara was born in Nasiri, in Iraq, where his father was imprisoned and killed under the Hussein regime. He arrived in Darwin by boat in December 2000 and was taken to Woomera Detention Centre for forty days (until the 28th of March 2001) before being released on a Temporary Protection Visa. This visa expired and he applied for a permanent visa which was rejected by the Minister, but was accepted by the Refugee Review Tribunal. He now lives in Melbourne.
Transcript of Interview
4 April 2006
Interview conducted by Rosemary Hoban
MS HOBAN I’m Rosemary Hoban, it’s the 4th of April 2006 and I’m interviewing Safi Basara. Safi, can you tell me your full name and where you come and your date of birth?
MR Basara My name is Safi Basara, birthday 26/12/66. I’m born in the Iraq, city Nasria.
MS HOBAN Can you tell me what it was like growing up in Nasria?
MR Basara Stop.
MS HOBAN You just talk. Who did you live with, tell me about your family?
MR Basara I lived with my parents and two sister.
MS HOBAN And where did you go to school?
MR Basara I go to school Abitaman High School.
MS HOBAN Tell me about school, did you enjoy it?
MR Basara My school, I remember this one very nice because I like the teacher, I like friend, yes, I remember that.
MS HOBAN Did you have hobbies?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Birds?
MR Basara I have, yeah in my home birds. Yeah, I like that.
MS HOBAN Tell me about that hobby what you did with birds?
MR Basara Yeah, every day I give them food because of flying, yeah.
MS HOBAN Did you play any sport, did you play sport?
MR Basara I don’t know sport.
MS HOBAN Football?
MR Basara No, no.
MS HOBAN Okay, was your family religious, what religion?
MR Basara Muslim.
MS HOBAN Muslim, okay. Did you go to the Mosque with your family?
MR Basara I no go to Mosque but my father go to a Mosque every day.
MS HOBAN And what about food, tell me the sorts of things that your mother or your sisters or your family cooked and ate?
MR Basara I cook food Arabic, Arabic food.
MS HOBAN Tell me about that sort of food?
MR Basara I cook lunch in the summer, people like ochre in the summer, this Boboli, Iraqi food.
MS HOBAN And what about breakfast and dinner, what was the food like?
MR Basara Breakfast, egg, cream, every thing same here, breakfast.
MS HOBAN Did you garden, did you grow food in your garden?
MR Basara Yeah, I have in my home I have garden, yeah.
MS HOBAN So, you liked gardening?
MR Basara Yes.
MS HOBAN Tell me about the garden that you used to have?
MR Basara My garden what do you want to talk about?
MS HOBAN What did you grow, what plants did you grow in your garden?
MR Basara No understand, I can’t speak English in the garden?
MS HOBAN Flowers?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Vegetables?
MR Basara Flower, vegetables, yeah something cucumber, tomato.
MS HOBAN And when you finished school how old were you?
MR Basara When I finish school I think, 20.
MS HOBAN Twenty, and then what did you do after you finished school?
MR Basara I worked with my father.
MS HOBAN And what was the business, what work did you do?
MR Basara Light shop.
MS HOBAN And can you tell me about the sort of work that you used to do in the shop?
MR Basara This shop in the centre the city Nasria and because very, very busy, yeah. Everyday I go to help him, yeah I like that yeah.
MS HOBAN What did you do in the shop, did you sell things?
MR Basara No, just I help my father some – I help him.
MS HOBAN Was it a big shop?
MR Basara Yeah, it was big shop.
MS HOBAN And you enjoyed working there?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah.
MS HOBAN So, how long did you live in Iraq for?
MR Basara I live in Iraq 34 years.
MS HOBAN Why did you leave Iraq?
MR Basara Because my father trouble with government Saddam Hussein. After that Saddam Hussein killed my father, after I left Iraq because Saddam Hussein I fear would stay this problem for me.
MS HOBAN Can you talk about the trouble that your father had with Saddam Hussein, tell us about that?
MR Basara 1998 people go to the Mosque and pray in the street but this (indistinct) government put (indistinct) in the gaol. After people go to talk to government to help this (indistinct) after government put it some people might be 40 people in the gaol, so my father went with these people, after kill him.
MS HOBAN What gaol was your father taken too?
MR Basara First in the gaol in Nasria, after sent to Baghdad.
MS HOBAN And do you remember the name of the gaol in Baghdad?
MR Basara Yes, Abu Ghraib.
MS HOBAN So, how did you find out what happened to your father, was he in gaol long?
MR Basara Maybe ten month, no my father stay in the gaol three month, after – Saddam Hussein kill him.
MS HOBAN And how did you find out what happened to your father?
MR Basara Because government come into my home, they said come into take the body, my father. I go to – me and my uncle to Abu Ghraib.
MS HOBAN And you brought, what happened then?
MR Basara After I got to this area, Nigeff because – put it in the ground, after I come back to Nasria. When I come back to Nasria after body’s coming putting me in the gaol.
MS HOBAN So, you were put in gaol?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Can you tell me about that?
MR Basara Yeah, I went put it in the gaol because I stay in the gaol ten month after I tell, no problem, this government problem with my father, after is it 2000 I go outside.
MS HOBAN So, ten months in gaol?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Tell me about those ten months in gaol. What was it like?
MR Basara There’s no food, no shower, very dirty and hurt people, yeah.
MS HOBAN And did that happen to you, were you hurt in gaol?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What happened?
MR Basara Every morning come in people – hurt people, yeah.
MS HOBAN So, after ten months what happened?
MR Basara After ten month I go outside but my mum she said to me don’t stay, if you stay here Saddam Hussein kill me -same my father. I go to Araf with my friend, after that I go to Jordan.
MS HOBAN Okay, so when you left the gaol did you go back to your mother and your sisters for a while?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah little bit, two month – after.
MS HOBAN What happened to the store, your father had a light shop where you worked, what happened to the shop?
MR Basara Yeah, after I go to this person because my father shared it with another person.
MS HOBAN Shared the shop?
MR Basara Sharing – yeah, I go to this person, I tell him I want money my father, this person very good he said give me seven days I finish everything, after that I go this person after seven days he give seven million Iraq.
MS HOBAN Do you know what that is in Australian money?
MR Basara $7,000, but this is $7,000 in Iraq but not same here, long. For example, 7,000 in Iraq two house if you want to buy two house.
MS HOBAN Two houses?
MR Basara Two houses.
MS HOBAN So, you got lots of money?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN For the shop?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What did you do with the money?
MR Basara Because I, when I think I want to go to Jordan I take the money I give my mother 1,000,000 and I put it in my wallet 6,000,000, after I go to Jordan.
MS HOBAN When you lived in Iraq did you speak English?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN What language?
MR Basara Just Arabic.
MS HOBAN When you were put in gaol what happened to your mother and sisters?
MR Basara After – stay this in home, because government broke into the house, house (indistinct) broke in. After my mother and two sister go to live with uncle, with uncle.
MS HOBAN With uncle.
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Where?
MR Basara Same city, Nasria.
MS HOBAN So, after you came out of gaol, you decided to leave?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Your mother, what did she say to you?
MR Basara She said to me don’t stay, go, if you stay here Saddam Hussein kill me.
MS HOBAN Did you have friends who were killed?
MR Basara Yeah, plenty. Plenty people Saddam Hussein kill.
MS HOBAN Why were your friends killed?
MR Basara Same trouble, you see the – if you see on the television when you (indistinct) Saddam Hussein, plenty story.
MS HOBAN So were you afraid?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What happened after you decided to leave and your mother said go, what did you do then?
MR Basara I go this area in Iraq, Ar Ramadi, beside Jordan. Some person I give money, they have ship and he said me $100 American, I give $100 American and three days walk in the desert, three days.
MS HOBAN To get from Iraq.
MR Basara To Jordan.
MS HOBAN Jordan, so you walked?
MR Basara Yeah, after
MS HOBAN Were you alone?
MR Basara Me and this person yeah am alone. After that I go to Jordan, I buy passport, some person help me at Jordan, I go to Malaysia.
MS HOBAN Malaysia?
MR Basara Malaysia.
MS HOBAN How long were you in Jordan?
MR Basara I stay in Jordan three days.
MS HOBAN And how did you get from Jordan to Malaysia?
MR Basara A plane.
MS HOBAN What happened in Malaysia?
MR Basara In Malaysia I stay one month in Malaysia, I want to go to Indonesia because when I go to – when I went to Malaysia some person I give them the passport, they come back the passport. I give them the passport in the airport, outside in the airport when I come to Malaysia I give them – I come back passport. After I no passport.
MS HOBAN Why did you give the passport?
MR Basara Because this business with another person the Jordan, (indistinct) came he said – because this passport come back to Jordan – again work.
MS HOBAN What did you do in Malaysia for one month?
MR Basara I just in hotel because I’m scared for police because no passport and hotel I go sometimes outside, I come back.
MS HOBAN Did you know anyone in Malaysia?
MR Basara I see, people Iraqi (indistinct) person, after someone said I send to Indonesia, give them money, some person experience for work for this one, and go to Indonesia.
MS HOBAN How did you get from Malaysia to Indonesia?
MR Basara Small boat, illegal.
MS HOBAN How long did that take?
MR Basara Three days.
MS HOBAN What was that trip like, tell me about that trip?
MR Basara What trip?
MS HOBAN The boat trip from Malaysia to Indonesia.
MR Basara Yeah, this one little bit food and small boat, very small, yeah.
MS HOBAN How many in the boat?
MR Basara Maybe 14 person.
MS HOBAN Were you scared?
MR Basara Yeah, very scared.
MS HOBAN Did you know anyone in that boat, anyone from Iraq?
MR Basara Yeah, Iraqi people, I know one family, all the family, I think husband and wife and six children together.
MS HOBAN Did anyone get sick on the boat?
MR Basara Yeah, I’m sick.
MS HOBAN Where did you arrive, where did the boat stop in Indonesia?
MR Basara In – I forget the city I think, Sumatra. Far away in the Jakarta. When I go to Jakarta – the bus three days.
MS HOBAN Okay. How long where you in Indonesia for?
MR Basara In Indonesia I stay two month.
MS HOBAN What did you do in those two months?
MR Basara Two month, same in Malaysia, this person put people in the house, big house. He said stay here when you buy boat, he said went and found the boat, stay two month after, so okay.
MS HOBAN Did they look after you in that house food?
MR Basara Yeah this person give the food, something.
MS HOBAN And how much did you pay to get a boat from Indonesia to Australia?
MR Basara Indonesia to Australia, $2,000 American.
MS HOBAN So, after two months
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN you got a boat?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Where did you catch the boat in Indonesia?
MR Basara In Indonesia this area name Cubung, Cubung.
MS HOBAN Can you tell me about getting that boat. Was it night time, day time?
MR Basara Yeah, night I think four o’clock morning, in the morning, yeah.
MS HOBAN Tell me about the boat?
MR Basara This boat when you come to the beach it can’t – the boat come near the beach because they want to stay here, people go to walk in the beach to boat. It had – there’s water there.
MS HOBAN Were you scared?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Cold?
MR Basara Before, when I come no for cold because summer.
MS HOBAN How many in the boat?
MR Basara Sixty people.
MS HOBAN Sixty?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Was it a big boat?
MR Basara Yes, not big but medium.
MS HOBAN Was it crowded?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Was there plenty of food?
MR Basara No, little bit food.
MS HOBAN What food did you eat?
MR Basara This food Indonesian. Some people don’t like this food. After in the – when I come to Indonesia this captain lost on the beach, three days lost.
MS HOBAN How long was the trip from Indonesia to Australia?
MR Basara Four days.
MS HOBAN Four days?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Were you afraid on the boat, were you afraid of the water, were you scared?
MR Basara Yeah, scared yeah. All people are scared because this one first, I go to this boat, I go to it before I no see the beach, never I see the beach.
MS HOBAN So, your first boat trip
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN was the first time you’d been on the beach?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What happened after the four days on the boat?
MR Basara In the area in Australia, Ashmore Reef, Ashmore.
MS HOBAN Ashmore Reef?
MR Basara Yeah. This one police in the Ashmore Reef coming.
MS HOBAN So, you landed and then what happened?
MR Basara Yeah, after police come in. Police, Australian come in to Ashmore Reef.
MS HOBAN And what happened to you then, tell us what happened?
MR Basara After send people to Darwin – police.
MS HOBAN Did the police tell you what would happen to you?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What did they tell you?
MR Basara They said why no come in before one day because helicopter before see the boat, after helicopter talk to police but this captain no understand that lost. This boy is very angry.
MS HOBAN Your boat was lost?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What did the police do, they took you to Darwin?
MR Basara Went and stayed in the Ashmore. Come in big boat for soldiers, for army. Police contact with this boat, he accept to send people to Darwin.
MS HOBAN Then what happened?
MR Basara Yeah, the soldier, general, he said he can’t put people inside the boat because the boat weapon something for soldier, he said outside, he said okay.
MS HOBAN You were taken from Ashmore Reef to Darwin on a boat?
MR Basara Yeah, outside.
MS HOBAN Okay, what happened when you got to Darwin?
MR Basara When this when, big room for basketball, this one person very nice, very person send the food, everything, clean, shower, yeah it was good person I remember this man. Very nice.
MS HOBAN How long were you in Darwin for?
MR Basara Two days.
MS HOBAN Did anyone tell you what would happen to you?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah.
MS HOBAN Who talked to you, how did you find out?
MR Basara This – some people, this person, I forget this name he said how old are you when you come birthday, something this one.
MS HOBAN And did he tell you where you would go after Darwin?
MR Basara Yeah, he said after Darwin he said to send to Woomera.
MS HOBAN Did you understand what was happening, did you understand that you were going to a detention centre?
MR Basara No, because I no understand for detention centre.
MS HOBAN Where did you think you were going, what did you think would happen to you?
MR Basara I think before I come to Australia this finish but I sent to Woomera.
MS HOBAN What happened after you left Darwin?
MR Basara When I left Darwin night, maybe twelve o’clock in the night in the plane, small plane sent to Darwin.
MS HOBAN How many on the plane?
MR Basara Maybe 50 person, 50, 60.
MS HOBAN From the boat?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What time did you get to Woomera?
MR Basara Three o’clock.
MS HOBAN In the morning?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN It’s dark?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Tell us about arriving at Woomera, what could you see?
MR Basara When I come to Woomera in the night, they sent me -give a room. They said this room, sleep in that room. Sleep in the room, after morning some person talk this one person, in the Woomera he said no trouble before, because before people had trouble. Fire in the detention centre and broken. I go outside people they say I promise I give visa three years, one week after three weeks people go outside. The same, yes, after case officer come in, yes. Because I’m lucky, I stay four days.
MS HOBAN Four days?
MR Basara In the detention centre.
MS HOBAN In Woomera?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Four days?
MR Basara Forty. No, 40 days.
MS HOBAN Forty?
MR Basara Yeah, 40 day.
MS HOBAN Forty days. When you got off the plane at Woomera and went to the room
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN and you woke up in the detention centre
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN describe what it looked like?
MR Basara Small room, or caravan and because I live with my friend, two person in the room.
MS HOBAN Okay, like a hut, small hut?
MR Basara Yeah, small, very small.
MS HOBAN Did your friend come on the boat with you?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah.
MS HOBAN Did he leave Iraq with you?
MR Basara No, I found him in – in Indonesia I see him.
MS HOBAN You met?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN So, two of you in one room?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN When you went outside what did it look like?
MR Basara Outside in the, yeah, in the morning I see this one same, the gaol. Yeah, because it can’t go to outside and because this Woomera and they visit, no see house, no see outside. Just desert.
MS HOBAN Were you surprised at where you were?
MR Basara Yeah, I’m surprised, in the morning surprised.
MS HOBAN You said it looked like the gaol?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Was that like the gaol in Iraq?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Were you in
MR Basara Plenty, I ask the security, I said security I no understand why don’t you go outside, because security no understand.
MS HOBAN Could you find someone who spoke Arabic?
MR Basara Yeah, plenty people in the – people in the detention centre speak Arabic.
MS HOBAN Any guards?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN So, could you find out what was happening to you?
MR Basara Yeah, some people said I see when I come, some people live eight month. They say very problem here.
MS HOBAN What were you thinking, were you afraid?
MR Basara Yeah, I’m very sad.
MS HOBAN Can you tell me about what the days were like at Woomera?
MR Basara Day?
MS HOBAN What did you do during the day, what time did you get up in the morning?
MR Basara In the morning I get, nine o’clock because I have breakfast at 8.30 sometimes I no go to breakfast, yeah.
MS HOBAN What was for breakfast, what food?
MR Basara Milk, food, egg, bread.
MS HOBAN Like food you had in Iraq?
MR Basara Yes, it was good – same.
MS HOBAN What did you do after breakfast?
MR Basara After I walk in the restaurant, clean when you finish people breakfast, lunch, dinner. Clean up, clean the table, floor.
MS HOBAN Did you get paid for cleaning?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN So, did you clean everyday?
MR Basara Yeah, everyday.
MS HOBAN After breakfast?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN And then what did you do?
MR Basara With a friend sometime jogging, sometime this one.
MS HOBAN Did you make many friends?
MR Basara Little bit, not too much.
MS HOBAN When it was lunch time what did you eat at lunch time?
MR Basara Meat, rice. But people worry they said this one meat halal, not halal, no understand. Some people eat, some people not eat this.
MS HOBAN Did you eat?
MR Basara Yes, I’m eat.
MS HOBAN And dinner?
MR Basara They are same, meat, rice, yeah but dinner if you finish lunch three o’clock, dinner five o’clock, what’s the problem, yeah. If no go five o’clock no dinner.
MS HOBAN Why was lunch at three?
MR Basara This business, for this business, this company they say five o’clock if you no can come at five o’clock no dinner, yeah.
MS HOBAN Was the food okay?
MR Basara Yes, okay. If you come at five o’clock you want to take away the dinner into the room, don’t accept – people.
MS HOBAN Not allowed?
MR Basara Yeah, they want to eat in the restaurant because scared for food dirty outside something.
MS HOBAN Did you get hungry anytime.
MR Basara No, not hungry.
MS HOBAN What about television, music was there any television to watch?
MR Basara One television and one television and 1,000 person.
MS HOBAN One television?
MR Basara One television, yeah.
MS HOBAN Did you watch it at all?
MR Basara Sometime I go to watch because no chair, no – plenty people too.
MS HOBAN Were there any radios?
MR Basara No, radios.
MS HOBAN Any music?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Did you write letters to your mother and sisters?
MR Basara No, no.
MS HOBAN Did you get any letters?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Were you allowed to write letters?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Did you read?
MR Basara No, no read. No book because I before no speak English, how can to read.
MS HOBAN No books in Arabic?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Did you play cards, play games?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN What did you do in the afternoon?
MR Basara Just sit down with people, talk together. Same, everyday same, talking.
MS HOBAN What did you talk about?
MR Basara From a story when coming here and from boat, from Iraq. People thinking when you go outside.
MS HOBAN Were people scared, were they telling you stories that made you scared?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What were you thinking about getting out?
MR Basara Yeah, I think sometime I see the bus, some people get from visa, I just, I work, I see – I hope, same as the spirit of the people.
MS HOBAN Was it noisy, was there lots of noise?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What were the sounds you remember, what sounds do you remember?
MR Basara Some people angry in the detention centre. Some people fighting. Crazy people stay long time.
MS HOBAN Did you see people fight?
MR Basara Yeah, plenty people fight.
MS HOBAN Did you get in any fights?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN what happened when you saw people fight?
MR Basara Very sad when I see people fighting.
MS HOBAN Were there many children in the camp?
MR Basara Yeah, children, yeah, plenty children.
MS HOBAN Did you see them play, what were they doing?
MR Basara Just together with family. No, because nowhere to play in the detention centre, nothing.
MS HOBAN How did that make you feel for the children?
MR Basara Yeah, very sad when I see children they’re hot, very hot Woomera.
MS HOBAN Was it hot during the day and at night?
MR Basara Yeah, very hot in the summer very, very hot.
MS HOBAN Trees?
MR Basara Huh?
MS HOBAN Were there any trees?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Any birds?
MR Basara No.
MS HOBAN Were there any smells that you remember?
MR Basara Yeah, windy, windy, yeah.
MS HOBAN Was it windy a lot?
MR Basara Yeah, windy.
MS HOBAN Hot and windy?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN During the day did you go into your bedroom, were you allowed in your bedroom during the day?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Describe your bedroom, what did it look like?
MR Basara My bedroom very small, very small, be half to this one, half again (indistinct) bed, two bed.
MR Basara Bed, two bed. Two bed – me and friend. Yeah, was very small.
MS HOBAN Was it cold at night?
MR Basara Because I live in the Woomera in the summer not cold.
MS HOBAN Was there air conditioning?
MR Basara Before last year people no air conditioned. When you fighting, and people after that send air condition. When I come to detention centre I see air condition.
MS HOBAN Did you see anyone hurt themselves?
MR Basara Yeah, I see one person, Afghani person.
MS HOBAN What did you see?
MR Basara When this one shave.
MS HOBAN Where did that happen, outside, inside?
MR Basara Inside.
MS HOBAN Can you tell me what happened, what you saw?
MR Basara He have small knife and take skin.
MS HOBAN And what happened then?
MR Basara After security come and take him there, Medicare. What can you do people, because this one very upset, he said I’m a long time here.
MS HOBAN Did you ever get sick?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN In Woomera?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What happened?
MR Basara My stomach, I have stomach. I go to Medicare.
MS HOBAN And what happened?
MR Basara I don’t know because when I come on the boat I eat food no good – dirty, water dirty.
MS HOBAN Did you get cared for, did someone care for you when you were sick?
MR Basara Yes, my friend. This one my friend that came on the boat – this one teacher and he speak English, he go with me to Medicare to talk to him.
MS HOBAN Did your mother know where you were?
MR Basara No, after when I come to Australia I ring my mother.
MS HOBAN When did you ring her?
MR Basara I ring my mother when I come to Australia 2001.
MS HOBAN When you were at Woomera?
MR Basara Woomera, no, no ring.
MS HOBAN Where were you when you phoned her?
MR Basara In the – Melbourne.
MS HOBAN So, she didn’t know where you were?
MR Basara No, all the story my mum no understand when I – she understand me I go to Jordan.
MS HOBAN What did she say when you told her?
MR Basara She very happy. First I ring my friend because my Uncle no telephone, I have to phone my friend, I ring my friend. My friend talked to mum, after mum come to house of friend I talk to – I ring again.
MS HOBAN Was she happy?
MR Basara Yeah, very happy.
MS HOBAN At Woomera who helped you apply for your visa?
MR Basara This case officer came in to talk and at the visa, interpreter.
MS HOBAN Interpreter.
MR Basara Yeah, and case officer talk the case after this 40 days, in the night he said Safi is okay with visa.
MS HOBAN When did you arrive at Woomera, what date?
MR Basara 31/12/2000.
MS HOBAN 31st of
MR Basara No, I think – yeah 31/3/2001.
MS HOBAN Is that when you arrived at Woomera?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah I come to Australia 31/12/2000 after that I go to three month in the detention centre, after I come to Melbourne.
MS HOBAN Did your friend who you shared the bedroom with, did he get his visa when you applied for yours?
MR Basara Yeah together, together.
MS HOBAN Did you share the bedroom with him the whole time at Woomera all the time?
MR Basara Yeah, all the time yeah.
MS HOBAN What about bathrooms, what were the bathrooms like?
MR Basara Yeah, bathroom is very dirty, very dirty bathroom. Plenty bathroom but very dirty toilet, yeah.
MS HOBAN Was there privacy in the bathroom for showers?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Was it private?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Shower curtains?
MR Basara Some curtain broken, some no curtain.
MS HOBAN And lights at night, were there lights?
MR Basara Little bit light at the night.
MS HOBAN Was there noise at night?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What was the noise at night?
MR Basara Because security everyday walk you see people fighting, yeah noisy people, some people noisy.
MS HOBAN At night did people fight?
MR Basara Yeah; everyday, night, morning.
MS HOBAN What was that like for you hearing fighting all the time at night?
MR Basara Yeah, I talk to myself when I go outside.
MS HOBAN Did you ever get in any fights?
MR Basara Yeah, some forget some no forget but I see plenty fighting people.
MS HOBAN People hurt from fighting?
MR Basara Yeah, hurt and blood.
MS HOBAN What were the guards like to you, the guards at Woomera. how did they treat you?
MR Basara Stop.
MS HOBAN The people who were at the detention centre working?
MR Basara Yeah people working?
MS HOBAN The people working there, the guards.
MR Basara Guards, won’t say guards.
MS HOBAN Police in the detention centre?
MR Basara No police, security.
MS HOBAN Security, were they good to you, kind to you, what were they like to you?
MR Basara Some people good, security some people good, some people very – no good.
MS HOBAN So, what happened to you with security that was no good?
MR Basara One securities name Shane, Shane yeah, I work in the restaurant he give me food, he give me pot, shoes, he give me shoes. All the people they work in the restaurant he give them shoes. After I think one day I’m sick I no go to work, they come into my room take the shoes. Them I’m very upset, this one shoes.
MS HOBAN Did you have other shoes?
MR Basara No, because my shoes broken, I stay no shoes.
MS HOBAN So, in the camp you walked around bare feet?
MR Basara Sometimes you have people shoes, sometime people no shoes.
MS HOBAN You, did you have shoes or bare feet?
MR Basara Two days I stay, no shoes because this one take the shoes.
MS HOBAN And did you go back and work in the kitchen after that?
MR Basara No, I no go, yeah. No like this person.
MS HOBAN Did security ever search you, search your body?
MR Basara No, because I’m very quiet.
MS HOBAN What about your friend?
MR Basara Yeah, friend I see some people friend fighting with security, some people in security hit him.
MS HOBAN Was your room ever searched, did security search your bedroom?
MR Basara Some people, some in the bedroom, some people outside.
MS HOBAN But your bedroom?
MR Basara No, because it just me and my friend, no.
MS HOBAN Tell me about getting your visa, you had your interview?
MR Basara Yeah, interview after that.
MS HOBAN How long, when did you have you interview?
MR Basara When I come to – in detention centre after one week, interview.
MS HOBAN And did the person who interviewed you – your case worker, what did they say to you?
MR Basara They said give me the story for Iraq. After story when I come to Australia they said you want to understand case officer I’m Iraqi, I’m not Iraqi. I give him for example.
MS HOBAN What example did you give her?
MR Basara She said me tell me the city Nasria, she want to understand Nasria, I tell her this Nasria it have river, it have for what is the government, and Nasria what is this one. She ask me for the city, I tell them this one they said okay. They after showed me for photo, they say to me what this, what this, photo, she have photo for Iraq, ay this where in Iraq, this where? I tell this in Baghdad, this one Nigeff.
MS HOBAN Did you she ask you about your father?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah all the story for father.
MS HOBAN How long after your interview did your case worker tell you about getting a visa?
MR Basara Two hours, two hours yeah.
MS HOBAN When did you get your visa?
MR Basara Visa – after 40 days, give a visa.
MS HOBAN What sort of visa did you get?
MR Basara TPV, three years TPV.
MS HOBAN Three years, a temporary?
MR Basara Temporary Protection Visa.
MS HOBAN When you got your visa did you have to stay in Woomera for a while or what happened the day you got your visa?
MR Basara This one, my visa this one the night come in security he said, Safi this one the visa. Morning eight o’clock he said bus go to Melbourne, I no sleep I stay, yeah.
MS HOBAN At night you got your visa?
MR Basara Yeah, night.
MS HOBAN The next day?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Gone?
MR Basara Yeah, I come to Melbourne.
MS HOBAN Tell me how did you feel when the security came to tell you about your visa?
MR Basara They said, what is it, Safi, I tell them, yes, they said visa, I said, oh.
MS HOBAN Did your friend?
MR Basara Yeah, friend same, that sleep with me in the room, same day, same time together.
MS HOBAN Are there things that happened in Woomera that you think about a lot, things you can’t forget?
MR Basara Yeah, because very – same in gaol because people were like, because no this food no good, dirty, something, no go outside, no see tree, no see house, no see the street, no see car.
MS HOBAN Were there sounds, are there things that you heard that you remember?
MR Basara What are?
MS HOBAN Are there things that happened at Woomera the fighting or anger, do you remember that, do you think about that now?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah I see one person Afghani – this fighting with same Afghani people.
MS HOBAN When you left Woomera in the morning what happened?
MR Basara I cry when I left Woomera, yeah, because my friend stay in the Woomera, not friend who lived with me another friend come with me in the boat because visa, my visa open, after people – after that for the list people the list stay. Not all people, everyday – I mean every week I think this day Tuesday. Every Tuesday visa, visa, it’s because they one week, two weeks after one month people.
MS HOBAN You were crying were you happy, and sad for your friend?
MR Basara Yeah, because when bus when you go, the detention centre be asking people to stay to see the bus. Children, women.
MS HOBAN So, what happened to your friend who did not get a visa?
MR Basara Try same, yeah because we live together maybe eight month while in Indonesia, Australia in the detention centre.
MS HOBAN Did he get a visa one day?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah every person get their visa after, after – same three years.
MS HOBAN When you got on the bus at Woomera did everyone crowd around, looking, wishing?
MR Basara Yeah, I look in the street, when I come look yes after this bus drove in the restaurant, after little bit see the city, yeah.
MS HOBAN You left Woomera in the morning, what happened then, what happened to you after you left Woomera that day?
MR Basara Yeah, I come to Melbourne.
MS HOBAN On the bus?
MR Basara On the bus.
MS HOBAN How long was that trip?
MR Basara One day and a half.
MS HOBAN What did you see along the way, did you know where you were going?
MR Basara No, she said we go to Melbourne but I just listen Melbourne but no understand where we were.
MS HOBAN Nobody asked you where you wanted to go?
MR Basara She said free now, free have visa.
MS HOBAN Who said?
MR Basara In the Woomera, because give me the visa they say this visa, now free.
MS HOBAN Did she tell you about Melbourne?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Could you go anywhere else or only to Melbourne?
MR Basara No, because some person her on the council, some people work for paper with address and give the flat, give me the flat. Yeah, for housing yeah and card, bank, card bank, bank card and Medicare, yeah and one social work Julia has helped.
MS HOBAN So, after you left Woomera on the bus with your friend.
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Who shared your bedroom, a day and a half to Melbourne?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What date, when did you leave Woomera?
MR Basara I remember, I think – stop there, I left the Woomera I think 28/3/2001.
MS HOBAN March 28 2001?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Then you went to Melbourne?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What happened when you arrived in Melbourne?
MR Basara When I live in the Melbourne?
MS HOBAN The day you arrived?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Tell me about the day you arrived in Melbourne?
MR Basara When I arrived Woomera I come to Melbourne and I go to this one council and I see this lady Julia, social work.
MS HOBAN Where did the bus stop?
MR Basara In the council, council this I think area this Bell, yeah, Bell.
MS HOBAN Bell?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN In Preston?
MR Basara Yeah, yeah and give me Medicare and the card bank and the flat, commission housing and come with me in the flat they say this your flat. This the shopping centre, the calls, there’s Medicare here, they teach me, after said, free. Said to me if you problem come back to me.
MS HOBAN When you arrived you were given everything on that day?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN House?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Everything?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Were you surprised?
MR Basara Yeah, I’m surprised yeah.
MS HOBAN What did you think would happen when you got to Melbourne?
MR Basara I think when I come to – I think very difficult but no difficult.
MS HOBAN Did you think you were going to another detention centre?
MR Basara Yeah, I think because I’m worried for because give me visa three year all people waiting for this one, maybe go back to Iraq, maybe stay here, maybe come back detention centre because people no understand.
MS HOBAN When you arrived in Melbourne was your caseworker – could they speak Arabic?
MR Basara No, interpreter come in.
MS HOBAN Okay, when did you learn English?
MR Basara I come to Fitzroy Learning Network, this one social work come with me here. I like Fitzroy Learning Network. I work in the Fitzroy volunteer cook, every Tuesday cooking.
MS HOBAN What do you do as a volunteer?
MR Basara Cook in the kitchen the school, cooking.
MS HOBAN Who do you cook for?
MR Basara Sometime I cook, sometime my friend cook, sometime because in my school plenty people different, different country Chinese, Vietnamese, Iraqi, Afghani, every person if you like cook come in to cook. Sometime Chinese, sometime Afghani, sometime Iraqi.
MS HOBAN When you were free and came to Melbourne is that when you phoned your mother?
MR Basara Yeah, I ring my friend, after I ring my mother. I tell her full story.
MS HOBAN What did she say?
MR Basara She said very good because all people don’t like staying in Iraq.
MS HOBAN Tell me about where you live now?
MR Basara I live in the Collingwood, Wellington Street, Collingwood.
MS HOBAN A house?
MR Basara Flat.
MS HOBAN Where is the flat?
MR Basara Is in building 240, we live in Wellington Street, Collingwood.
MS HOBAN Is it large or small, tell me about your flat?
MR Basara Medium, but it’s good.
MS HOBAN Up high, or on the ground?
MR Basara No, it high.
MS HOBAN Do you have friends where you live?
MR Basara No, I live by self.
MS HOBAN Have you made friends?
MR Basara Yeah, I have a friend here.
MS HOBAN Who are your friends?
MR Basara Because friend come with me to Australia and live in the Hoddle Street, sometime visit me, some time I visit him.
MS HOBAN Safi, you were talking about where you live now in the flat.
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN And that you come to the Fitzroy Learning Network, what else do you do during the day now, are you working?
MR Basara No, because I’m disability.
MS HOBAN What’s your disability?
MR Basara It’s my leg.
MS HOBAN Your leg?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What happened to your leg?
MR Basara It’s when I had children, that’s when. When I (indistinct).
MS HOBAN Was it an accident?
MR Basara Yeah. I think ring needle, (indistinct) ring needle when I had children. I have (indistinct) before I think needle was wrong.
MS HOBAN You can walk around okay?
MR Basara Yeah, it’s okay I walk.
MS HOBAN What do you do during the day each day, tell me about your day?
MR Basara The days, because I’m cook in my home I cook sometime lunch, sometime I’m ring my friend come into my house. Sometime I go to friend house, go to party sometime.
MS HOBAN Do you like to cook?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What sort of food do you cook?
MR Basara I cook food Arabic.
MS HOBAN Did you miss eating Arabic food at Woomera?
MR Basara I don’t like eat, cooking from Woomera because different cook.
MS HOBAN What do you cook now, what sort of things do you cook?
MR Basara I cook rice, meat, chicken.
MS HOBAN Your friend now is that the person who shared the bedroom with?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN In Woomera?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN So, he came on the bus with you?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN So, you have a good friend now?
MR Basara Yes, good friend.
MS HOBAN And have you made other friends?
MR Basara Yeah, I have yeah.
MS HOBAN Do you have hobbies now, do you still breed birds anymore like you did in Iraq?
MR Basara I see birds in the garden here, sometime I give them food, rice, sometime bread.
MS HOBAN When you came to Melbourne who has helped you settle into life here?
MR Basara A social worker, name Julia. This nice woman.
MS HOBAN What did Julia help you do?
MR Basara Julia help me when I come, because I no understand machine the bank.
MS HOBAN The bank?
MR Basara The bank – she teach me the machine and give me help to school and to
MS HOBAN What school?
MR Basara It’s Fitzroy Learning Network and sometime the government send me letter but I no understand because I no read English. I go to Julia to read this one, I ring interpreter because I know understand letter. Sometime letter come into my home because I no understand. I go to Julia.
MS HOBAN Your TPV for three years.
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN When did it finish?
MR Basara Finish last year.
MS HOBAN What happened when your TPV finished?
MR Basara I go to interview in Immigration. After that I go to Immigration, I have rejected.
MS HOBAN Your application.
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN So, you applied permanent visa?
MR Basara No, rejected in the Immigration, rejected.
MS HOBAN Okay, Immigration rejected your application.
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Then what happened?
MR Basara I go to tribunal. After that in the tribunal I have government visa.
MS HOBAN Who helped you with your application to the tribunal?
MR Basara Is when lawyer, David Mann.
MS HOBAN Can you tell me about that, what was it like going to the tribunal?
MR Basara When I listen tribunal but I’m very scared, but when I go to tribunal, very difficult here. I think same in Iraq tribunal for Saddam Hussein was very difficult. This woman very nice, very kind, talk slowly and I think in the tribunal (indistinct) inside, outside as well, but no, different.
MS HOBAN When your application was rejected, why was it rejected first?
MR Basara I don’t know, this I – she ask me for my case after, send me letter, it said rejected.
MS HOBAN Then David Mann helped you?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN With the tribunal, but you were scared?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN What is a tribunal in Iraq?
MR Basara The tribunal in Iraq if you go to a tribunal like (indistinct) but people go to gaol.
MS HOBAN Is it like a court?
MR Basara Yeah, bodies and because this judge not honest, every people put it in the gaol. Yeah, was here different.
MS HOBAN Last year you went to the tribunal here?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Was it in Melbourne?
MR Basara Yeah, in Melbourne.
MS HOBAN And what happened at the tribunal?
MR Basara Yeah, when I go to tribunal me and David Mann and friend come with me, this lady Michelle because tribunal he want a friend come together to listen. He said this room, small room and interpreter is very good, I’m surprised because before I’m scared.
MS HOBAN What did the tribunal say, did you get your visa?
MR Basara No, just he say he ask me for my case after give me day, he said come in this day. After 15 days I go to listen, I go to listen, I go to office, I sit down. They come in one person, he said where is Safi Basara, he said me he said come with me in the room. I go to room he says Safi, I have permanent visa. I tell him thank you Australia, thank you Australia.
MS HOBAN Were you scared before you got your permanent visa?
MR Basara Yeah, I’m very scared. Nervous, yeah, very nervous.
MS HOBAN What did you think might happen?
MR Basara I think rejected again.
MS HOBAN What would happen, what might happen if you were rejected again?
MR Basara If you rejected again – because if you rejected I’m stay in Australia because if you stay in Australia this one no good, because I want to go to marry, I have, I want to send people here, family together, I want children. If you stay this rejected, rejected it’s nothing, after I’m 50 years old.
MS HOBAN So, you’ve got your permanent visa?
MR Basara Now I have permanent visa I hope the citizen after two years, I go to married, yes, I have this one.
MS HOBAN When you got your visa how did you feel?
MR Basara I’m very happy because, yeah.
MS HOBAN Do you feel safe now?
MR Basara Yeah, I’m safe yeah. Different before I sleep good, before I’m thinking I, if you come back to Iraq I’m stay here, I not understand but now different.
MS HOBAN What would you like to do now, after you’re a citizen, what would you like to do in your future?
MR Basara After citizen I want to marry, yeah.
MS HOBAN Marry here or marry someone from Iraq?
MR Basara No, I don’t know, just I want a citizen, I want to see my family, after that I want Iraqi here, I don’t know.
MS HOBAN Do you talk to your mother much?
MR Basara Yeah, sometime.
MS HOBAN Would she like to come and live here?
MR Basara In Iraq?
MS HOBAN Would your mother or your sisters like to join you in Australia?
MR Basara Because my mother very old, she don’t like because if you coming here no friend, no speak English – because very old.
MS HOBAN What about your sisters?
MR Basara Sister, she like.
MS HOBAN Would like to come here?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Once you’re a citizen can you go and visit your family in Iraq?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Would you like to go and visit them soon?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Is your mother well?
MR Basara Yeah.
MS HOBAN Is there anything about your time in Australia or in Woomera that you would like to talk about that we haven’t talked about this morning, is there anything that you would like to say?
MR Basara For Woomera?
MS HOBAN About life in Australia?
MR Basara Oh, for Woomera.
MS HOBAN Do you regret coming to Australia, are you happy that you came, is there anything you would like to say?
MR Basara When I come to Australia I’m very happy and because have freedom. People very kind, different in my country, very different.
MS HOBAN What is different with your country?
MR Basara Because here freedom, my country no freedom just in my country war, and people in the gaol and government Saddam Hussein very bad, different government here. Also if you see in the TV when you change Saddam Hussein plenty story for Saddam Hussein, kill people on the ground, plenty and plenty, plenty story.
INCOMPLETE INTERVIEW
